How do you remove paint from hardwood floors?

A:

Quick Answer

Removing paint from hardwood floors must be done carefully to prevent permanent damage to the wood. While stripping or sanding the wood may be the only solution if the entire floor has been painted, there are other solutions to try when you just want to remove paint splatters.

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Scrape paint off the floor

Use a putty knife made of hard plastic to scrape up individual drops. Tap it gently with a hammer to break up globs of paint.

Warm the paint with a hair dryer

Heat any remaining paint with a hair dryer set to high heat and held 3 inches over the paint for 20 seconds. The heat should loosen the paint, which you can then chip away with your plastic putty knife. This technique works best with oil-based enamel paints.

Apply mineral spirits or latex paint remover to the paint

Dampen a clean rag with a paint-removing solution and apply it gently to any remaining paint splotches. Use latex paint remover for latex-based paints and mineral spirits for oil-based paints.